Outdoor lighting

[KyleRJones]

So I am trying to figure out how do outdoor lighting in maya. I need to light up a scene for a online camera class, and my scene is outdoors. What would be the best light to use for this? And it is going to be day time.

[rburke]

So I am trying to figure out how do outdoor lighting in maya. I need to light up a scene for a online camera class, and my scene is outdoors. What would be the best light to use for this? And it is going to be day time.

there is w hole tomes of text on this but simple answer is use the built in mental ray physical sun and sky. switch to mental ray open render settings, go to the indirect lighting tab and create sun and sky.

alternatively you could use a directional light, and light casting dome, to get a similar effect. there is just a ton of ways to do this really.

Best bet is probably to read up on what is going on in outdoor lighting and try to mimic it or fake it.